“Shut Down the Economy if Ajaero is Detained” – NLC Directs Workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed all workers across the country to immediately halt economic activities if the Nigerian Police proceed with the arrest of its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

This directive comes in response to the police’s invitation of Ajaero for questioning over alleged involvement in terrorism financing and other charges. The NLC leadership convened an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Labour House in Abuja to deliberate on the issue and formulate a response.

During the briefing, NLC Deputy President Kabiru Ado Sani emphasized that the invitation to Ajaero was, in effect, an invitation to all Nigerian workers. He stated, “At the end of the meeting, we reached certain resolutions. One of them is that as a committed labor center, we agreed to abide by the rule of law and due process.”

Sani explained that while the NLC intends to honor the police invitation, it would first consult with its legal team to seek an extension of time. He made it clear that this compliance does not imply acceptance of the charges against Ajaero or the Congress leadership.

In a stern warning, the NLC resolved that if Ajaero is arrested or detained, all workers nationwide will be called upon to down tools, effectively shutting down the economy. Sani added, “This organization belongs to all of us, and we must do everything possible to safeguard its integrity and safety.”

The NLC leadership urged workers to remain calm, return to their workplaces, and await further instructions.